Labelling apparatus for printing dispensing and affixing of labels

ABSTRACT

A supply for a carrier tape with detachable labels is accommodated in a housing of the apparatus, and a printing station is provided, including a plurality of turnable printing wheels past which the tape travels. An affixing arrangement is located downstream of the printing wheels for detaching the printed labels from the tape and affixing them to an object to be labelled. A drive is provided downstream of the affixing arrangement for incrementally advancing the carrier tape past the printing wheels. The drive includes a rotatable drum over a periphery of which the tape passes, an engaging member which intermittently urges the tape into frictional engagement with this periphery so that the tape is entrained by the drum, and a pressure plate which is located adjacent the printing wheels and which is intermittently movable toward the printing wheels in response to operation of the engaging member in order to urge the tape and the respective label thereon into engagement with the printing wheels for printing by the same.

United States Patent 91 Schroter et al.

[451 Dec. 2, 1975 1 LABELLING APPARATUS FOR PRINTING DISPENSING AND AFFIXING OF LABELS [73] Assignee: Heinrich Hermann, Stuttgart,

Germany [22] Filed: Oct. 29, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 410,317

[58] Field of Search 156/277, 384, 541, 542, 156/350, 361, 368, 584, DIG. 49; 101/288, 327, 333, 335, 368

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,686,055 8/1972 Hermann 156/384 3,804,016 4/1974 Marozzi et al. 101/333 Primary ExamirierCaleb Weston Attorney, Agent, or FirmMichael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT A supply for a carrier tape with detachable labels is accommodated in a housing of the apparatus, and a printing station is provided, including a plurality of turnable printing wheels past which the tape travels. An affixing arrangement is located downstream of the printing wheels for detaching the printed labels from the tape and affixing them to an object to be labelled. A drive is provided downstream of the affixing arrangement for incrementally advancing the carrier tape past the printing wheels. The drive includes a rotatable drum over a periphery of which the tape passes, an engaging member which intermittently urges the tape into frictional engagement with this periphery so that the tape is entrained by the drum, and a pressure plate which is located adjacent the printing wheels and which is intermittently movable toward the printing wheels in response to operation of the engaging member in order to urge the tape and the respective label thereon into engagement with the printing wheels for printing by the same.

23 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures U.S. Patfint Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 1 of 12 3,923,582

US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 2 of 12 3,923,582

Fig.2

US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet30f 12 3,923,582

mm 0N. mm :2 mm 2 mm um um mm mm mm um Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 5 of 12 Fig. 6

Sheet 7 of 12 3,923,582

- US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 52 i E m F 3: 5

E: n 1: 7 n ml .1: n m U) u 9 7 1 {Uri}: I 3

U.S. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet8of 12 3,923,582

Fig.10

nw t/mmq'mco ncumpmmqlnco U.S. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet90f12 3,923,582

Fig. 11

xm 102 10] 103 95 98 112 100i 74 Xllk-i US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 10 of 12 US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet11of12 3,923,582

US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 12 of 12 3,923,582

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a labelling apparatus, and more particularly to a labelling apparatus for printing, dispensing and affixing of labels. Still more specifically, the invention relates to such an apparatus wherein the labels are detachably carried by a carrier tape.

This general type of apparatus is already known from the art. It uses printing wheels which can be turned from the exterior of the apparatus to obtain a desired setting, that is to select the message (price, legend or the like) which is to be printed. A pressure plate is provided in the prior-art constructions, which urges the labels on the carrier tape into engagement with the type faces which are formed on the peripheries of the printingwheels. This pressure plate is moved through approximately 90 from a withdrawn position in which it permits the tape to move freely past the printing wheels, into a printing position in which it urges the tape and therefore the respective label thereon into printing engagement with the printing wheels. If this prior-art type of apparatus is manually operated, this requires substantial exertions on the part of a user which lead to rapid tiring, and on the other hand if the drive for carrying out these operations is electrical, these exertions rapidly drain the stored electrical energy. It will be appreciated that it is not practical to use this type of hand-held apparatus with a plug-in cord, because it must be possible to freely move about and it is not acceptable thata core should have to be pulled behind the user.

A further disadvantage of this prior-art type of construction is that additional muscular or electrical energy must be expended in order to apply printing ink to the type faces on the type wheels, because it is necessary to pivot an inking roller against the type faces during each printing operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus of the type in question, an apparatus which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. i

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved labelling apparatus for printing, dispensing and affixing of labels which are detachably carried on a carrier tape.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an improved apparatus which requires only little muscular or electrical energy for its operation;

A further object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus which operates both rapidly and reliably.

A further object of the: invention is to provide such a labelling apparatuswhich is relatively simple in its construction and requires a comparatively small number of individual components.

Yet an additional object of the invention is to provide such a labelling apparatus which can be readily assembled and is simple to use.

In keeping with the above objects, and of others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides in a labelling apparatus for printing, dispensing and affixing of labels which are detach- 'ably carried on a carrier tape and which, briefly stated,

comprises a housing and supply means in the housing for supplying a carrier tape with the detachable labels thereon. Printing means is mounted in the housing and includes a plurality of turnable printing wheels past which the tape travels from the supply means. Affixing means is located downstream of the printing means for detaching the printed labels from the tape and affixing them to an object to be labelled. There is further provided drive means downstream of the affixing means for incrementally advancing the carrier tape past the printing wheels. This drive means comprises a rotatable drum having a periphery over which the tape passes, an engaging member for intermittently urging the tape into frictional engagement with this periphery so that the tape is entrained by the rotatable drum having a periphery over which the tape passes, an engaging member for intermittently urging the tape into frictional engagement with this periphery so that the tape is entrained by the rotating drum, and a pressure plate adjacent the printing wheels at a side of the tape which is opposite the printing wheels, this pressure plate being intermittently movable toward the printing wheels in response to operation of the engaging member so as to urge the tape and the respective label thereon into engagement with the printing wheels for printing by the same.

According to a further concept of the invention the amount of energy required to operate the apparatus is particularly small if the pressure plate extends in all positions thereof substantially normal to an imaginary line passing at a right angle through the axis of rotation about which the printing wheels are turnable and also through the periphery of the printing wheels, and if the printing wheels themselves are wholly or in part of absorbent material. The pressure plate need then be pivoted only to such an extent that the labels on the carrier tape can move just out of engagement with the printing wheels, so that only very little energy is required to carry out such pivoting if this is done manually. On the other hand, if the device is operated electrically, the amount of electrical energy required is so small that it is readily possible to store sufficient electrical energy in a rechargeable battery of the device which will permit operation of the device for an entire working day without having to recharge the battery or replace it. Moreover, if the printing wheels are made wholly or in part of absorbent material, that can absorb sufficient ink for a prolonged operation, so that little or even no force or energy is necessary to supply ink at repeated intervals to the number wheels. According to a further concept of the invention, an ink reservoir can be provided which has a cushion of absorbent material one side of which is in contact with the ink in the reservoir and the other side of which is in contact with the periphery of the printing wheels, to yield ink to the same.

It is advantageous if the pressure plate is urged permanently towards engagement with the printing wheels by a spring The pressure plate can be mounted on one arm of a doublearmed lever the other arm of which is engaged by the spring which can be a contraction spring. Intermediate the pivot point of the double armed lever and the pressure plate itself an engaging portion can be provided for effecting pivoting of the arm and thereby the plate.

The apparatus may utilizing a battery-operated electric motor, a drive wheel which is driven by the electric motor,and a double-armed drive lever which is pivotal about a stationary pivot and one arm of which is movable. in response to engagement with and operation by the drive wheel. The other arm of this lever can engage the engaging portion for effecting pivoting of the pressure plate. This engaging portion may be in form of a roll which extends into a cam track formed on the one arm of the double-armed drive lever and which is so configurated that the roll can assume two end positions in one of which the pressure plate engages the tape and urges it into contact with the periphery of the printing wheels, and in the other of which it is withdrawn from the periphery of the printing wheels by a distance sufficient to permit movement of the tape past the printing wheels out of engagement with the same. The arm which cooperates with the drive wheel may be bifurcated and the drive wheel may be provided with an eccentric pin which engages the bifurcated arm in order to effect pivoting of the double-armed lever.

A rocker member may be journalled on the pivot axis of the double-armed drive lever, and on the side of the drive wheel which is opposite the side on which the projection is formed, a pin may be eccentrically mounted which extends into a slot formed in the rocker member, the latter having a cam portion which operates a switch interposed in the electrical circuit of the electric motor. The switch may be a reversing switch which in one operational position permits the flow of electrical energy to the electric motor, and the other operational positionprevents this flow. In particular, it may short the motor windings in this other operational position and this permits a rapid stopping of the apparatus. The switch may be pivotably mounted against the action of a spring, and a slide member may be provided which pivots the switch out of engagement with the cam of the rocker member when it is operated from the exterior so as to start the electric motor. After starting of the electric motor the cam remains out of engagement with the switch, even when the slide member is subsequently released. The cam has, however, a portion which engages the switch after the operating cycle of the drive has been completed for printing of a single label, and which then causes the switch to be operated so as to stop the supply of electrical energy to the motor.

It is particularly advantageous if the housing is provided with a cover accommodating a coil of the carrier tape with the detachable labels thereon, and if this cover is mounted pivotably of the housing at a side which is remote from the pressure plate. The cover, which is hollow to accommodate the coil of tape, is provided in the region of its pivot with a projection which engages the pressure plate orthe lever carrying the same when the cover is pivoted to open position, to thereby displace the pressure plate away from the periphery of the printing wheels.

The printing wheels themselves may advantageously each be provided with a hub which, is surrounded by and carries an annulus of absorbent material the periphery of which is formed with the type faces. When this material is saturated with printing ink, a very large number of printing operations (for instance on the order of 30,000) may be carried out, so that it is not necessary to provide a device which re-inks the type faces after each printing operation as is the case in the prior art. "Radial projections may be provided on the hubs which extend into recesses formed in the annular members of absorbent material, in order to keep the annular members from slipping relative to the respective hub.

To make possible a simple and rapid exchange of the printing means/and to permit carrying-out of alstill greater number of printing operations, the invention also contemplates journalling the printing wheels in the walls of a casing which is accommodated in the housing and to which printing-ink reservoirs can be clampingly connected. One of these reservoirs is provided with the earlier-mentioned cushion which is in contact with the printing ink therein and also in contact with the periphery of the printing wheels, so that the absorbent material of the annular portions of the printing wheels is constantly saturated with printing ink and permits the carrying-out of literally hundreds of thousands of printing operations without having to re-ink in a specific reinking operation.

An additional printing line may be provided, separate from and in addition to that provided by the printing wheels. This may be done by providing a stamp and an teristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following de-' scription of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating one side of an apparatus according to the present invention, with part of the housing removed to show the interior;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the op-' posite side of the apparatus, again. with part of the housing removed to show the interior;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the cover which contains a roll of carrier tapewith labels thereon, in an open position for loading or unloading;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the path traversed by the carrier tape with the labels;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail, showing the electric circuit of an electric drive for the apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a partially sectioned enlarged detail view, showing details of the printing arrangement of the apparatus; I

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale,

for an arrangement for providing an additional printing line;

FIG. 9 is a section taken on line IX-IX of FIGiS', but showing a slightly different embodiment;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view, partly in' section on an enlarged scale, showing the circumference of the printing arrangement;

FIG. 1 1 is an enlarged-scale view, partly broken away, showing a side view of printing wheelsfor the ap paratus;

FIG. 12 is an axial section through a series of printing wheels of the apparatus;

FIG. 13 is a section taken on line XIII--XIII of FIG..

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary side view, partly sectioned, showing a further embodiment of a printing arrangement;

FIG. 15 is a view of FIG. 14, looking from the left towards the right thereof;

FIG. 16 is a view of FIG. 15, looking in the direction of the arrow XVI;

FIG. 17 is a view, on an enlarged scale, of a drive for the apparatus for advancing the carrier tape with the labels;

FIG. 18 is a view of FIG. 17, as seen in the direction of the arrow XVIII;

FIG. 19 is a view of FIG. 18, as seen in the direction of the arrow XIX; and

FIG. 20 is a section taken on line XX-XX of FIG. 18.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing the novel apparatus in detail, as illustrated in FIGS. l-20 of the drawing, it will be seen that the apparatus has a housing 1 which is composed of two substantially mirrorsymmetrical housing shells 2 and 3. A drive 4 is provided in the housing, including an advancing arrangement for the tape, and there is also provided a printing arrangement 6 and a battery 7 which supplies electrical energy for the drive 4. These features are all clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The housing 1 is relatively narrow (see FIG. 6) in the region of the printing arrangement, the drive 4 and the advancing arrangement 5. In the region of the battery 7 it is formed with a hand-grip portion 92 so that it can be engaged by the hand or hands of a user. In the region of the drive 4, the device 5 and the printing arrangement 6 the housing is downwardly open (downwardly referring to the orientation shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) and in the region of the drive 4 and the device 5 it is closed in upward direction by a hollow cover 8 which can accommodate, as for instance shown in FIG. 4, a supply coil 9 of labelling tape 10a which is composed of a carrier tape 10 on which labels 11 are detachably fixed with spacing from one another in the longitudinal direction'of the tape 10.

FIG. 4 shows particularly clearly that the tape 10a is withdrawn from the coil 9, and is supplied via a guide member 12 to the printing arrangement 6 the type faces 13 of which (see for instance FIG. 7) print the individual labels 11. During this printing, a pressure plate 14 urges the tape 10 with the labels 11 against the type faces 13.

Immediately downstream of the type faces 13 the tape 10 is made to pass about an edge formed by a roller 15 so that it is forced to turn through almost 180, with the result that the labels 11 become detached from the carrier tape 10. Once they are so detached, the labels 11 can be affixed by an affixing member 16 of yieldable material to any desired object which is to be labelled.

The carrier tape 10 which now is without labels,

and into the advancing device 5 which engages it and output shaft of the electromotor l8, and a drive wheel or gear 24 which is engaged by the pinion 23 and driven by the same. The electromotor 18 turns the pinion 23 in clockwise direction (in FIG. 2), which means that the gear 24 turns in counter-clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2.

A pin 25 is mounted on one axial side of the wheel 24 eccentrically with reference to the .axis of rotation of the same, and engages in a slot 26 formed in the rocker intermittently advances it during each operating cycle I gear drive 19 comprises a pinion 23 mounted on the about a shaft 22 which is mounted in the housing. The

element 21. During its rocking movement to and fro the rocking element 21 imparts movement to a bracket 29 of the device 5, in that a pin 28 of the bracket 29 extends into a cutout 27 of the element 21. The bracket 29 in turn carries a pivotable engaging member 30 which serves to effect the incremental advancement of the carrier 10.

Provided on the opposite axial side of the wheel 24, that is the side opposite the pin 25, there is an additional pin 31 which is also eccentric with reference to the axis of rotation of the wheel 24 and which cooperates with the lever 20. The latter acts upon a lever 32 carrying the pressure plate 14 and being mounted in the housing 1 for pivotal movement about a pivot 33. The lever 32 and thus the plate 14 are so mounted that the plate 14 will in each and every position extend almost normal to a line 34 passing through the axis of rotation about which the type wheels 67 of the printing arrangement 6 can be turned, and the point of contact at which the type faces 13 of these type wheels engage the pressure plate 14, or rather the tape which is located between the pressure plate and the type faces 13. To assure this, the lever 32 is a double-armed lever having one arm 35 which carries the pressure plate 14 and another arm 36 which is engaged by a spring 37. A contact element, configurated in this embodiment is a roller 38, is provided between the pivot 33 and the plate 14, to drive the lever 20.

The latter is bifurcated at 39, having two portions 40,41 which are engaged by the pin 31. In the arm 42 of the lever 20 there is provided a cam track 43 which is formed with two rest positions 44, 45 for the roller 38. If the roller 38 is in the rest position 44, which is a condition illustrated in FIG. 2, then the pressure plate 14 is biased against the type faces 13 under the influence of the spring 37. In this case, the pin 31 engages and cooperates with the portion 40. After approximately half a turn of the wheel 24 the pin 31 will be in engagement with the portion 41, so that the lever 20 will be pivoted in clockwise direction (with reference to FIG. 2) and the roller 38 will move into the rest position 45. Since this is spaced from the axis of rotation 22 of the lever 20 by a slightly greater distance than the position 44, the pressure plate 14 is lifted off the type faces 13 against the action of the spring 37 by a distance which is sufficient for the labels 11 with the tape 10 on which they are carried to move out of contact with the type faces 13.

One operating cycle for printing and dispensing of a label 11 is initiated by operating a switch 46 which is pivotable about the same pivot 33 as the lever 32. The switch 46 is provided with a portion 47 which, when the switch 46 is operated, acts upon a slide member 48. The latter in turn acts upon the housing of a switch 51 which is pivotable against the action of a spring 50 about a stationary shaft 49. FIG. 5 shows clearly that the switch 51 is a reversing switch so that, when its member 52 is pressed inwardly, it makes a connection which permits shorting of the windings of the motor 18,

whereas when the member 52 extends outwardly the connection established affords the supply of electrical energy to the motor 18 in that it connects the windings of the motor 18 with the battery 7. FIG. shows the non-operating position, in which the rocker member 21 assumes an extreme position and acts with a portion 53 of its cam 54 which extends circumferentially of the axis of rotation 22 the member 52 which is pressed inwardly and which shorts the windings of the electromotor 18.

When the switch 46 is depressed, and the housing of the switch 51 is pivoted in counterclockwise direction about the pivot axis 49 .under the influence of the member 48, then the member 52 moves out of engagement with the portion 53 of the cam track 54, so that the electromotor 18 receives electrical energy and can start up. As a result of this, and immediately after such starting-up of the electromotor, the portion 55 of the cam track 54 moves adjacent the member 52. However, the latter cannot be operated by the portion 55, so that even when the switch 46 is disengaged, a full turn of the drive wheel 24 and therefore a full operating cycle will be carried out before the member 52 is again depressed inwardly under the influence of the portion 53 of the cam track 54.-To assure that the switch 51 does not hinder the movement of the lever 20, the latter is provided with a substantially triangular cutout.

The battery 7 which supplies electrical energy for the motor 18 is accommodated in the hand grip portion 92 of the housing 1, and is connected with terminals 56 which are provided in the housing and which can be engaged with the terminal of a non-illustrated charging device to permit re-charging of the rechargeable battery 7.

As FIG. 3 shows particularly clearly, the hollow cover 8 of the housing 1 is pivotably connected with the latter, the pivot axis being identified with reference numeral 57 in FIG. 3. In the region of the pivot axis 57 the cover 8 is provided with a projecting portion 58 on which a lug 59 is articulated. The lug 59 is engaged in the region where it is articulated to the projection 58, by a spring 37. That end of the lug 59 which is remote from the projection 58 is connected by means of slide connection 60 with the arm 36 of the lever 32. The connection 60 utilizes a slot 61 formed in the lever 32, and a pin 62 which is fixed to the lug 59 and extends into the slot 61. The provision of the slot 61 is necessary to permit the lever 32 to pivot about its pivot axis 33 when the cover 8 is in closed position (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

In order to maintain the cover 8 in the open position shown in FIG. 3, and in order to be able to pivot the lever 32 out of the housing 1 for a ready insertion of the carrier tape 10, the pivot points of the cover 8, the lug 59, the spring 37 and the lever 32 have approximately the following coordinance in the pressure exerting position, with the y axis passing through the pivot 57 and the x axis extending parallel to the plane of the plate 14 which the plate assumes when it is in the pressure position.

-continued Pivot point x y element 32, pivot 33 26 45 After the cover has been opened and is again closed, it is of course necessary that the lever 32 reliably return to its position in which the pressure plate 14 can operate in the intended manner. To assure this, the cover 8 can be latched to the housing 1 when it is in its closed position (see FIGS. 1 and 2). For this purpose the lower edge 63 of the cover 8 is provided with projections 65, and the free edge 64 of the housing 1 is provided with recesses 66 into which the projections 65 can snap. Quite evidently, the relationship of the elements 65 and 66 can be reversed.

The printing arrangement 6 is fixedly mounted in the housing 1 and has a casing 73 provided with side walls 74. The printing wheels 67 are turnably and arrestably mounted on the side walls 74, and indicating wheels 68 mesh with the printing wheels 67 and permit reading of the type faces 13 which have been set by turning the wheels 67 to a desired position, via a magnifier 69. The printing wheels 67 and the wheels 68 are adjacent one another, and can be adjusted with reference to one another in a manner still to be described.

It is particularly advantageous if the printing wheels 67 have hubs which are surrounded by and carry annular or ring elements 76 of absorbent material, for instance micro-porous rubber or the like. A cushion 77 of absorbent material engages the periphery of the wheels 67 and is received in an opening 78 of an ink reservoir 70 which in turn is filled with absorbent material that is completely saturated with printing ink.

An additional printing line 71 is arranged in parallel to the printing line or lines formed by the type faces 13 of the printing wheels 67. As seen with reference to the advancement of the tape 10, this additional printing line 71 is located ahead of the type faces 13 of the wheels 67. It has an ink reservoir 72 and a stamp 79 of absorbent material, for instance again micro-porous rubber. Thereservoir 72 is also filled with absorbent material which is saturated with ink. The stamp 71 extends into the region of the pressure plate 14, which thus serves as a support when the labels 11 are to be provided with an additional item of information which is printed by the additional printing line 71. An intermediate wall 80 is provided on the reservoir 72, to support the stamp 79; the wall 80 is formed with an opening 71 to connect the two compartments 82, 83 which are formed by the wall 80 in the reservoir 72. In order to be able to use different colored inks for the printing line 71, an arrangement such as that shown in FIG. 9 may be used, where the reservoir is designated with reference numeral 72' and is subdivided by an intermediate wall 84 into two separate compartments 85, 86 each of which is provided with a stamp 79' or 79'', re spectively, which both are supported by the intermediate wall 80'.

Both of the reservoirs 70 and 72 can be clamped between the side walls 74 of the casing 73. For this purpose the side walls 74 are provided with slots 87 and 88 into which pins 88 and 90 of the reservoirs 70 and 72 engage. This means that the reservoirs 70 and 72 can be readily exchanged for others if and when necessary.

The affixing element 16 is provided at the forward edge of the printing arrangement 6, and serves to press the printed labels -which have been released as the tape passes around the roller 15- against an object to be labelled. An element 16 is formed in this embodiment of several laterally adjacent portions 93 which press against the label intermediate the respective printed types formed by the type faces 13, to assure that the still slightly moist ink of the printing on the labels 1 1 does not become smudged. The element 16 is of elastically yieldable material so that it can accommodate itself yieldably to the surface of an object to which the respective labels 11 are to be affixed. By arranging the element 16 directly at the printing arrangement 6, the element 16 can be accommodated to the particular requirements of the printing arrangement and need not be separately exchanged if and when the printing arrangement 6 is exchanged. A hold down 91 is also provided on the element 16 which is constructed in the same manner as the element 16 of individual portions which engage the label intermediate the types 13, and the purpose is to press the tape 10 with the labels 11 against the pressure plate 14, to assure that the moment at which printing is carried out the label 11 will be in good contact with the pressure plate 14.

The printing wheels 67 and indicating wheels 78 which are turnably and arrestably journalled in the side walls 74 of the casing 73, are each arranged in form of a package or series 94, 95, respectively. The wheels 67 are mounted on a shaft 96, and the wheels 68 on a shaft 97. Each of the wheels 67 is connected with an associated wheel 68 via gears 98, 99 in such a manner that one turn of a wheel 68 results in a corresponding similar turn of a wheel 67 associated with it.

The shaft 97 is provided with an arrangement for setting of the wheels 68. This comprises a flat key 101 provided with a projection 100 and with a turnable knob 102 at its end remote from the projection 100. The. key 101 isbifurcated and has two portions 103, 104 of which the former carries at one end the projection 100 whereas the latter constitutes a part of an arresting arrangement. The shaft 97 is composed of two sections 105, 106 which receive the key 101 between them. The section 105 has axially extending grooves 107 into which corresponding projections 108 of the section 106 extend, so that the two sections 105 and 106 are adjusted properly with reference to one another.

The arresting arrangement for the key 101 uses a spring 109 which is mounted on the shaft section 106, and recesses 1 10 formed in the part 104 of the key 101. A head 111 of the spring 109, which is rolled, extends into the recesses 110. The recesses 110 are of triangular shape to facilitate snapping-in and snapping-out of the head 11 1. One of the recesses 110 is always associated with one of the reels 68. The latter are provided wwith radial recesses 112 into which the projection 100 of the key 101 can be axially slid.

An arresting device is provided in the shaft 96 about which the printing wheels 67 are turnable. This is in form of projections 113 which springily extend out from the shaft 96 and are'receivable in radial recesses 114 formed in the printing wheels 67. The shaft 96 itself is of two shell-shaped portions 115 and 116 which interengage and accommodate springs 117 forming the projections 113. The grooves 114 are of somewhat wave-shaped configuration to .provide for ready entry and exit of the projections 113.

The wheels 67 have the hubs and the ring-shaped portions 76 which advantageously should be of absorbent material, for instance micro-porous rubber or the like, and which form the type faces 13. Projections 118 extend radially from the hubs 75 into recesses 119 of the ring portions 76, so that the latter cannot turn relative to the respective hubs 75. Each of the ring portions 76 is laterally supported by discs 120 of sheet steel or the like.

FIGS. 14-16 show a printing arrangement with a position indicator 121. For this purpose the member 101' is provided with a portion 122 which is guided longitudinally displaceable in a groove 123 of a member 124, intermediate the side walls 74. A substantially U- shaped leaf spring 125 maintains the portion 122 in the groove 123, for which purpose its portion 127 is mounted by means of a spring 126, whereas the other portion 128 engages a recess 129 of the portion 122. To provide a position indication a marking 130 here configurated as an indicator is provided on the portion 122 and extends into the visual range 131 above one of the reels 68'. The range 131 is located directly beneath the magnifier 69 so that the numerals or the like which have been set can be read through the magnifier 69. The indicator 130 and the projection 100' which is provided on the portion 103' of the member 101', are located in a plane 132 which extends normal to the axis of rotation 133 of the member 101'. The knob 102' of the member 101' is configurated cylindrically and provided with a groove 134 which is concentric to the axis of rotation 133 and into which a projection 135 of the angled portion 122 extends, so that the member 101 can be turned with reference to the portion 122, but cannot be longitudinally shifted.

Coming, finally, to FIGS. 1720 it will be seen that these Figures illustrate an advancing device 5 having a drum 137 which is turnable in the direction of the arrow 136 about the shaft 22 which is mounted in the housing. A bracket 29 is also pivotable about the shaft 22 on which it is journalled, and an engaging member 139 is pivoted at 138 to the bracket. In the plane of the cylindrical peripheral surface of the drum 137 there are provided engaging portions for a part 180 provided with an edge 140. These engaging portions are here configurated as teeth 181 of an annulus 141 of teeth formed in the peripheral surface of the drum 137. FIG. 18 shows that two of the annuli 141 are provided, one each in the region of the opposite axial ends of the drum 137. Adjacent the annulus 141 which serve for engagement with the edge there is provided a circumferential groove 142 into which a detecting portion 143 of the engaging member 139 can extend, and adjacent the groove 142 there is a circumferential abutment surface 144. At the opposite axial ends the drum 137 is provided with circumferential ribs 145 which extend beyond its peripheral surface and intermediate which the carrier tape 10 is convoluted about part of the circumference of the drum 137, overlying the annuli 141.

The carrier tape 10 is provided with cutouts 146 which extend from the ribs 145 axially inwardly past the groove 142. The portions 147 of the carrier tape 10 which are located between the cutouts 146 overlie the abutment surface 147.

FIG. 20 shows that the radial spacing between the free edge 148 of the portion 143 from the pivot axis 138 of the engaging member 139 is greater than the radial distance of the edge 140 from the pivot axis 138.

This means that the edge 140 cannot cooperate with the annulus 171 as long as the portion 143 has its free edge 148 in contact with the tape portion 147 intermediate two of the cutouts 146. Only when the portion 143, which senses the cutouts 146, drops into one of the cutouts will the tape be pressed against the annuli 141 of the drum 137 by means of the edge 140.

The bracket 29 and thus the drum 137 are driven by the rocker member 21 which is mounted on the shaft 22 on which the drum 137 is also mounted. The rocker member 21 is also provided with a slot 149 into which there extends a pin 151 which is eccentrically mounted on a drive wheel 150 which is driven by the electromotor 18 via a gear drive 152. The transmission of the movements of the rocker member 21 to the bracket 29 takes place via a pin 153 which axially projects from the engaging member 139 into a slot 154 of the rocker member 21. The longitudinal axis of the slot 154 and the pivot axis 138 of the engaging member 139 are located in a common plane, as shown in FIG. 19, which in the direction of rotation of the drum 137 i.e. in the direction of the arrow 136 is located ahead of a parallel plane passing through the axis of rotation 22 of the drum 137.

When the rocker member 21 moves in the direction of the arrow 155, it imparts a torque to the engaging member 139, causing it to pivot about the axis 138 in the direction of the arrow 156. If, now, the portion 143 drops into a cutout 146 of the tape 10, the edge 140 presses against the annulus 141 of the drum 137 under the influence of this torque and clamps or frictionally engages the tape with the drum 137, to be entrained by the latter. When the rocker member 21 tilts in the direction opposite the arrow 155, the edge 140 is retracted because during this movement a torque opposite to the arrow 156 is produced.

It will be appreciated that the use of the member 139 provided with the portion 143 and being freely movable about the axis 138, permits an automatic accommodation of the advancement of the carrier tape 10 to the operating cycle of the apparatus. The shortest label 11 to be transported, that is the smallest distance between two of the cutouts 146, must be slightly longer than half the distance of the longest label 11. Intermediate these two values, the length of the labels 11 can be selected at will.

The drum 137 is mounted on a sleeve 157 which is fixedly connected with it and which in turn is tumably mounted on a shaft 158 that is fixedly mounted in the housing. The bracket 29 is pivotably mounted on the sleeve 157. In order to obtain the pressure required to provide for appropriate pressing of the edge 140 against the annulus 141 in each operating condition, a friction device is arranged between the sleeve 157 and the bracket 29. This friction device will brake the bracket 29 during movement of the rocker element 21 in its two mutually opposite directions. In the illustrated embodiment the friction device utilizes a spring 159 which is lightly tensioned and surrounds the sleeve 157 and is provided at its ends with respective axially extending projections 160 which engage a portion 161 extending radially on the bracket 29. When the bracket 29 pivots about the sleeve 157, the spring 159 produces a slight friction between drum 137 and the bracket 29. It should be appreciated that modifications of this arrangement are possible, for instance in that the spring is eliminated and the space between the drum 137 and a disc connected with the bracket 29 in the same manner 12 as the spring 159 accommodates a body of grease having the desired properties.

In some circumstances, particularly when a new supply of carrier tape 10 with the labels 11 is to be produced, it may happen that one of the cutouts 146 is covered by a label 11 which is improperly placed and which has not become separated as the tape 10 has passed around the roller 15. If that should be the case, the portion l43 could not sense the presence of the recesses and the member 139 would not operate. For this purpose an auxiliary arrangement is provided for rotating the drum 137. This is shown clearly in FIG. 17 and will be seen to utilize a member 167 which is tumably mounted on the sleeve 156 and has a projection 163 engaging with teeth 164 of the drum 137. A pin 165 extends axially from the bracket 29 into an arcuate slot 166 of the member 162. The arrangement is accommodated at one axial end in a recess 167 of the drum 137, and the teeth 164 are provided in the recess 167, the individual teeth extending radially inwardly and being designated with reference numeral 168. They have flanks 169 which are inclined in the direction of rotation of the drum 137, which direction is indicated by the arrow 136, and in the opposite direction they have steep radially extending flanks 170. When the drum 137 is turned by the arrangement 5, the projection 163 can jump from tooth to tooth 168, for which purpose the arm 171 carrying the projection 163 is elastically yieldable. If, however, the device 5 should be inoperative for the abovementioned reason or any other reason, then the pin 165 on the bracket 29 engages the member 162 at one end of the slot 166 and causes the drum 137 to be turned in the direction of the arrow 136 via the projection 163, so that the taped end is advanced by one increment.

The drum 137 should not turn in a direction opposite to the arrow 136. To assure this, a pawl 172 is tumably mounted on the shaft 158 and engages into the teeth 164 with a projection 173. The arm 174 of the pawl 172 is also elastically yieldable so that when the drum 137 turns in the direction of the arrow 136 its projection 173 can slip or snap over the teeth 168' of the arrangement 164. The member 162 as well as the pawl 172 engages into the recesses between the teeth 168 of the arrangement 164.

The carrier tape 10 is pressed under light tension against the peripheral surface of the drum 137, for

which purpose a spring 175 is provided and which is mounted on the pivot 33 of the lever 32 and surrounds that portion of the periphery of the drum 137 about which the carrier tape 10 is convoluted. FIG. 18 shows that the spring 175 extends between the annuli 141 and is formed with a groove 176 facing the periphery of the drum 137 and into which conical projections 177 extend which project radially from the peripheral surface of the drum 137. The projections 177 can move in the groove 176 and they, in conjunction with the spring 175, provide for a sufficient frictional engagement between the carrier tape 10 and the drum 137, especially at such times when a new carrier tape is inserted into the apparatus, or when the portion 143 cannot (for the aforementioned reasons) drop into the cutouts 146 of the carrier tape 10. At opposite sides of the portion of the drum surrounded by the spring 175, the drum 137 is provided with circumferential grooves 178 into which stripper members 179 extend which are mounted on the housing and which serve to strip the carrier tape 10 off the drum 137 to guide it out of the 13 housing 1, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4.

The arrangement can be produced particularly simply if the drum 137, the bracket 129, the member 139 with the portion 133, the member 162, the pawl 172, the spring 159 and the rocker element 121 are all of synthetic plastic material. Particularly in this case the edge 140 should be of a ceramic material, or else of a suitably hard metallic material, such as steel, to eliminate excessive wear at the edge 140.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a labelling apparatus, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. I

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invvention that others can be applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

l. A labelling apparatus for printing, dispensing and affixing of labels which are detachably carried on a carrier tape, comprising a housing; supply means in said housing for supplying a carrier tape with the detachable labels thereon; printing means mounted in said housing and including a plurality of turnable printing wheels past which said tape travels from said supply means; affixing means downstream of said printing means for detaching the printed labels from said tape and affixing them to an object to be labelled; and drive means downstream of said affixing means for incrementally advancing said carrier tape past said printing wheels in proximity therewith, said drive means comprising a drive wheel adapted to be driven, a lever mounted in said housing for angular displacement about a pivot axis and having an arm engaged by said drive wheel, a rotatable drum having a periphery over which said tape passes, an engaging member for intermittently engaging said tape into frictional engagement with said periphery so that the tape is entrained by the rotating drum, and a pressure plate located adjacent said printing wheels proximal to a side of said tape which is opposite the same, and intermittently movable towards said printing wheels substantially simultaneously with said intermittent operation of said engaging member so as to urge said tape and the respective label thereon into engagement with said printing wheels for printing by the same, whereby the amount of time andthe en'- ergy required to operate the labelling apparatus-are substantially minimized due to the substantial simultaneity of the movement of said pressure plate with the operation of said engaging member, and due to the proximity of said pressure plate to said tape.

2. A labelling apparatus for printing,'dispensing and affixing of labels which are detachably carried on a carrier tape, comprising a housing; supply means in said housing for supplying a carrier tape with the detachable labels thereon; printing means mounted in said housing and including a plurality of turnable printing wheels past which said tape travels from said supply means; affixing means downstream of said printing means for detaching the printed labels from said tape and affixing them to an object to be labelled; and drive means downstream of said affixing means for incrementally advancing said carrier tape past said printing wheels in proximity therewith, said drive means comprising a rotatable drum having a periphery over which said tape passes, an engaging member for intermittently urging said tape into frictional engagement with said periphery so that the tape is entrained by the rotating drum, and a pressure plate located adjacent said printing wheels proximal to a side of said tape which is opposite the same, and intermittently movable toward said printing wheels substantially simultaneously with said intermittent operation of said engaging member so as to urge said tape and the respective label thereon into engagement with said printing wheels for printing by the same, whereby the amount of time and the energy required to operate the labelling apparatus are substantially minimal due to the substantial simultaneity of the movement of said pressure plate with theoperation of said engaging member, and due to the proximity of said pressure plate to said tape.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said supply means comprises a supply receptacle, pivot means pivotably connecting said supply receptacle to said housing for movement between a leading position and an operating position, and means on said supply receptacle for engaging said pressure plate and moving the same away from said printing wheels in response to movement of said supply receptacle to said loading position thereof. P

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said printing wheels each comprise a hub portion, and an annular portion of absorbent material mounted on the respective hub portion and provided with type faces to be printed. 1 1

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said printing wheels are turnable about a common axis and are composed of absorbent material; and wherein said pressure plate extends in all positions thereof substantially normal to an imaginary line passing at a right angle through said common axis and the peripheries of said printing wheels. t

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said printing means further comprises a receptacle for printing ink, and an absorbent cushion receiving printing ink from said receptacle and being in contact with said peripheries of said printing wheels. a

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, said pressure plate including a plate portion and an arm portion which carries said plate portion and is mounted for displacement about a pivot; and further comprising a contact portion intermediate said pivot and said plate portion and positioned for engagement by said drive means.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said printing wheels are arranged in a row, and wherein said printing means further comprises an additional printing unit parallel to said row and including an ink reservoir and a stamp of micro-porous rubber.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said printing means further comprises a casing in which said printing wheels are mounted, and a receptacle for printing ink for inking of said printing wheels, said cas- 

1. A labelling apparatus for printing, dispensing and affixing of labels which are detachably carried on a carrier tape, comprising a housing; supply means in said housing for supplying a carrier tape with the detachable labels thereon; printing means mounted in said housing and including a plurality of turnable printing wheels past which said tape travels from said supply means; affixing means downstream of said printing means for detaching the printed labels from said tape and affixing them to an object to be labelled; and drive means downstream of said affixing means for incrementally advancing said carrier tape past said printing wheels in proximity therewith, said drive means comprising a drive wheel adapted to be driven, a lever mounted in said housing for angular displacement about a pivot axis and having an arm engaged by said drive wheel, a rotatable drum having a periphery over which said tape passes, an engaging member for intermittently engaging said tape into frictional engagement with said periphery so that the tape is entrained by the rotating drum, and a pressure plate located adjacent said printing wheels proximal to a side of said tape which is opposite the same, and intermittently movable towards said printing wheels substantially simultaneously with said intermittent operation of said engaging member so as to urge said tape and the respective label thereon into engagement with said printing wheels for printing by the same, whereby the amount of time and the energy required to operate the labelling apparatus are substantially minimized due to the substantial simultaneity of the movement of said pressure plate with the operation of said engaging member, and due to the proximity of said pressure plate to said tape.
 2. A labelling apparatus for printing, dispensing and affixing of labels which are detachably carried on a carrier tape, comprising a housing; supply means in said housing for supplying a carrier tape with the detachable labels thereon; printing means mounted in said housing and including a plurality of turnable printing wheels past which said tape travels from said supply means; affixing means downstream of said printing means for detaching the printed labels from said tape and affixing them to an object to be labelled; and drive means downstream of said affixing means for incrementally advancing said carrier tape past said printing wheels in proximity therewith, said drive means comprising a rotatable drum having a periphery over which said tape passes, an engaging member for intermittently urging said tape into frictional engagement with said periphery so that the tape is entrained by the rotating drum, and a pressure plate located adjacent said printing wheels proximal to a side of said tape which is opposite the same, and intermittently movable toward said printing wheels substantially simultaneously with said intermittent operation of said engaging member so as to urge said tape and the respective label thereon into engagement with said printing wheels for printing by the same, whereby the amount of time and the energy required to operate the labelling apparatus are substantially minimal due to the substantial simultaneity of the movement of said pressure plate with the operation of said engaging member, and due to the proximity of said pressure plate to said tape.
 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said supply means comprises a supply receptacle, pivot means pivotably connecting said supply receptacle to said housing for movement between a loading position and an operating position, and means on said supply receptacle for engaging said pressure plate and moving the same away from said printing wheels in response to movement of said supply receptacle to said loading position thereof.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said printing wheels each comprise a hub portion, and an annular portion of absorbent material mounted on the respective hub portion and provided with type faces to be printed.
 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said printing wheels are turnable about a common axis and are composed of absorbent material; and wherein said pressure plate extends in all positions thereof substantially normal to an imaginary line passing at a right angle through said common axis and the peripheries of said printing wheels.
 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said printing means further comprises a receptacle for printing ink, and an absorbent cushion receiving printing ink from said receptacle and being in contact with said peripheries of said printing wheels.
 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, said pressure plate including a plate portion and an arm portion which carries said plate portion and is mounted for displacement about a pivot; and further comprising a contact portion intermediate said pivot and said plate portion and positioned for engagement by said drive means.
 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said printing wheels are arranged in a row, and wherein said printing means further comprises an additional printing unit parallel to said row and including an ink reservoir and a stamp of micro-porous rubber.
 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said printing means further comprises a casing in which said printing wheels are mounted, and a receptacle for printing ink for inking of said printing wheels, said casing having side walls and said receptacle and reservoir being clamped between said side walls.
 10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9; and further comprising a cushion of absorbent material intermediate said receptacle and said printing wheels and receiving printing ink from the former and yielding it up to the latter.
 11. An apparatus as defined in claim 2; and further comprising a bracket mounted for pivotal displacement about an axis of rotation of said drum and carrying said engaging member.
 12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11; further comprising a shaft mounted in said housing and mounting said drum for rotation; wherein said bracket includes a sleeve which is rigidly connected with said drum and on which said bracket is turnably mounted; and further comprising a friction device interposed between and cooperating with said drum and said bracket.
 13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12; further comprising an auxiliary engaging member journalled on said sleeve and having a projection and an arcuate slot, an annulus of teeth provided on said drum and engageable by said projection of said auxiliary engaging member, and a pin projecting from said bracket spaced from but substantially parallel to said axis of rotation and extending into said arcuate slot.
 14. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, said drum having a periphery provided with recesses located between successive engaging portions which are engageable with said engaging member, and said tape being partly convoluted about said periphery intermediate the same and said engaging member; and wherein said engaging member includes a detecting portion for detecting the respective recesses, and is operative for deflecting said tape into engagement with said engaging portions in response to detection of a respective recess by said detecting portion; and further comprising spring means mounted in said housing and yieldably urging said tape against said periphery of said drum.
 15. An apparaTus as defined in claim 14, wherein said engaging member includes a free edge portion of a hard metallic material for engaging and deflecting said tape into engagement with said engaging portions.
 16. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said engaging member includes a free edge portion of ceramic material for engaging and deflecting said tape into engagement with said engaging portions.
 17. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, said drum having projections extending radially outwardly from said periphery; and said spring means comprising a spring element partly embracing said periphery and being provided with a groove facing the same in which said projections can move during rotation of said drum.
 18. A labelling apparatus for printing, dispensing and affixing of labels which are detachably carried on a carrier tape, comprising a housing; supply means in said housing for supplying a carrier tape with the detachable labels thereon; printing means mounted in said housing and including a plurality of turnable printing wheels past which said tape travels from said supply means, said printing wheels being turnable about a common axis and being composed of absorbent material; affixing means downstream of said printing means for detaching the printed labels from said tape and affixing them to an object to be labelled; and drive means downstream of said affixing means for incrementally advancing said carrier tape past said printing wheels in proximity therewith, said drive means comprising an electric motor, a drive wheel driven by said electric motor, a lever mounted in said housing for angular displacement about a pivot axis and having a first arm engaged by said drive wheel and a second arm, a rotatable drum having a periphery over which said tape passes, and an engaging member for intermittently urging said tape into frictional engagement with said periphery so that the tape is entrained by the rotating drum; a pressure plate extending adjacent said printing wheels proximal to a side of said tape which is opposite the same, and intermittently movable towards said printing wheels in positions which are substantially normal to an imaginary line passing at a right angle through said common axis and the peripheries of said printing wheels substantially simultaneously with said intermittent operation of said engaging member so as to urge said tape and the respective label thereon into engagement with said printing wheels for printing by the same, said pressure plate including a plate portion and an arm portion which carries said plate portion and is mounted for displacement about a pivot; and a contact portion intermediate said pivot and said plate portion and positioned for engagement by said second arm of said lever of said drive means, whereby the amount of time and the energy required to operate the labelling apparatus are substantially minimized due to the substantial simultaneity of the movement of said pressure plate with the operation of said engaging member, anad due to the proximity of said pressure plate to said tape.
 19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said other arm is formed with a cam track, and said contact portion is a roll engaged with said cam track and movable along the same between one end position in which said plate portion urges said tape into engagement with said printing wheels, and another end position in which said plate portion is spaced from said printing wheels by a distance sufficient for movement of said tape past and out of contact with said printing wheels.
 20. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said one arm is bifurcated and has two parts; and wherein said drive wheel includes an eccentric projection engaging said parts for effecting pivoting of said lever about said pivot axis.
 21. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, said housing having a handle portion for gripping by a user; further comprising a rechargeable battery in said handle portion and electrically connected with said electric motor; and charging terminals provided on said housing and electrically connected with said battery for connecting the same with a recharging device.
 22. An apparatus as defined in claim 18; and further comprising a rocker element mounted coaxially with said lever and formed with a slot and with a cam track; said drive wheel including an eccentric projection extending into said slot so as to rock said rocker element about said pivot axis; and electric switch means operatively connected with said motor for energizing and de-energizing the same, said switch means being positioned to be engaged and operated by said rocker element during rocking of the same about said pivot axis.
 23. An apparatus as defined in claim 22, said switch means comprising a reversing switch having two operative positions in one of which it supplies and in the other of which it denies electrical energy to said electric motor. 